2008 GMC Acadia: whining or grinding noise

Filed Mar 1, 2018 · Airbags, Driver assistance · 5,123 miles · AL

I purchased a 2008 acadia in november 2016. The seller stated that they had to order a airbag and replace the old one. Alone with the seat belt. I didn't get the car until a month later. When I got the acadia it was making some whining noise, wouldn't crank back up, rattle and clatter, dragging in the transmission like driving in a certain gears, noisy in neutral. Airbag, seatbelt and stability traction control light continue to come on. Needed a alternator and now the engine gone. I been having problem's with the car since I got it, and it been only 13th months. We were driving twice and the vehicle shut down on us on the in-state. We had to get it pull back home. Several times driving on the main highway and street it wouldn't go in great. I don't photos at this time. I would have to wait until tomorrow, to go outside and take pictures. When I got the vehicle the left driving side tire light continue to come on, still having problem's with changing the tires left back and right front. Don't know how many miles was on there. I tried to place an x n the seat belt and unknown other space, but it wouldn't let me.

Filed Jul 17, 2015 · Transmission · 83,000 miles · AE

My husband was driving our 2008 gmc acadia and the power train started to make a whining noise, when the gearbox shifted the noise stopped. A minute later he stopped and then when he tried to proceed forward the vehicle would not shift into any gear and the car would no longer drive. We had several people in our vehicle, mostly kids, and had to recruit bystanders to help us push the vehicle off the road to a nearby parking lot. This is a huge saftey issue! My family had to stand on the side of the road while my husband and some gracious strangers had to push the vehicle since it was no longer drivable. And they we had to wait for someone to come get us. I have seen several complaints with the same scenario and really think this issue needs to be investigated. And this worst part to this whole situation is that we are military and are currently stationed overseas and will cost us over $5000 just to have the part shipped here.

Filed Jun 12, 2014 · Acceleration, Transmission · 133,000 miles · GA

The transmission had been hard shifting from 3rd to 4th for about 200 miles. At 25 MPH while turning through a very busy intersection the engine revved shifted through what felt like every gear, the car lost acceleration power; going from 25 MPH to 10mph. Parked the vehicle. Restarted to find that only first and second gears worked and the check engine light illuminated. During the 200 previous miles of concern; I had heard a faint whine during acceleration. The first time any trouble occurred the vehicle was stopped behind a school bus loading and while I applied the brake (still completely stopped) the car lurched forward. I immediately shifted to neutral, not wanting to rear end the school bus.

Filed Jan 9, 2014 · Electrical, Steering · 108,000 miles · GA

Transmission started failing and finally went out at 108,000 miles, sitting in our driveway and we had to have it towed to dealer. Gm dealer replaced it under warranty but the labor cost us several thousand dollars. Now at 170,000 miles, this remanufactured transmission is now going out. It sticks in low speed and then overheats driving 65mph in 40deg weather. The dealer claims that a stretched timing chain has to be fixed first, before the transmission, at a cost of $1944. They also said the on board computer didn't store the numerous overheated transmission events that began occurring immediately after the remanufactured transmission was installed at 108,000 miles. The gm dealer is trying to tell me that the transmission is probably ok and that the overheating is due to some other reason, but he then couldn't even guess at what the other reasons might be! The fluid level is good, and the vehicle has a tow package with a cooler for the transmission fluid. Gm dealer said the transmission will be covered by warranty, which will likely mean another several thousand dollar labor charge on top of the so called stretched timing chain cost of $1,900. The power steering pump has been whining for about a year and is getting loud. The navigation and dvd player system failed twice. Might be time to trade the vehicle for something more reliable. My wife is getting scared to drive it too far and end up being broken down in atlanta traffic...very dangerous.

Filed Aug 21, 2013 · Airbags · 80,000 miles · WV

Started the vehicle and immediately there was an air bag message warning message on the dash. There have already been many complaints regarding air bags on the federal safety agency website with the same or similar issues. Hopefully you can issue a recall to force gm to make it right since they will not take responsibility. There is also is an active recall on 2007 models so I believe it is a known issue and there should be a recall on 2008 models as well. This being a safety issue that many acadia owners are experiencing it definitely should be a recall. Water also leaks from the roof. It comes in contact with electrical systems including wiring components for the air bag. I wonder if that has something to do with the airbag warning message. A lot of people also mentioned how the power steering makes a loud whining noise. I have that problem as well. You can even feel it in the steering wheel because the noise is so loud it creates a vibration. I believe like there is a lack of responsibility on gm's part for not correcting known issues.

Filed Jul 27, 2013 · Fuel system, Transmission · 117,245 miles · NC

At driving speed it was noticed that acadia began to fail to shift gears, basically on highway it is stuck in first gear and after finding a place to stop, it will now not go into reverse. Have found the edmunds, ask and numerous other sites are full of transmission complaints concerning the 2008 acadia and it's failures. This transmission has had minor issues in past, minor leak and some whining, but this is a complete and hazardous failure while driving in traffic. I have since learned that this is a common and known issue to general motors costing the consumers approx. $3000 to $3500 per instance. Is there nothing to be done to assist the consumers?

Filed Jul 21, 2012 · Steering · 64,860 miles · VA

At approx. 64,860 power steering started making a whining noise that kept getting louder and louder.

Filed May 2, 2012 · Steering · 62,000 miles · MI

At approx. 62,000 power steering started making a whining noise that kept getting louder and louder. Took to the dealer and they repaired/replaced the rack that they said was starting to go bad. It was covered under the gm certified used warranty and they told me that it was a known issue with these and should be all set. Now, about a year later (warranty expired-power steering is not considered powertrain...) the same noise and high effort to turn steering wheel is happening again. They now say that the power steering pump is going and there is a blown gasket in the steering column causing a leak of steering fluid which is causing the whine. They say that the repair is going to cost me over $750. Gmc needs to announce a recall for this issue, or at least issue a notice for dealers to repair this issue when it arises. I'm one of the lucky ones that did not have the system fail when driving. I could probably recover if it did, I'm just glad my wife wasn't driving it with my children when it decided to fail!! I know of at least two other owners that had this same issue, when will gm step up and take care of this issue?!?!

Filed May 1, 2012 · Airbags, Steering · TX

Our vehicle has had the air bag service light on for a very long time, when we got the recall notice, we took it in to the dealership and they stated that our vehicle was fine and our light was caused by a different problem. As time has gone by, it has done the rest of the items listed on the recall such as on/off light remaining off with a passenger in the seat and now it actually flashes back and forth with or without a passenger. Our power steering has been making a whine sound since 2009. It has only worsened over time and now has depreciated our vehicles value for a trade-in. We are completely dissatified with the quality of vehicle we have gotten. I would not recommend an acadia based on the reliability of gmc and the lack of responsibility to fix problems that are obviously on the manufacturing end. We know several others having the same problem with 2008 acadia and have found many forums of people discussing their issues and it appears that the 2008 has the greatest amount of issues. We have been advised to seek legal action.

Filed Nov 2, 2011 · Steering · 65,000 miles · NC

Apparently the entire line up of gm crossovers (acadia, enclave, and traverse) 2007-2010 are affected by a power steering problem. Mine has a whine in the power steering pump. It is possibly the pump, or the rack and pinion. The dealer quoted me $450-$1000 to repair. I know that they have improved the power steering pumps on these vehicles, which indicates to me that the original was defective. I feel like steering is a part of safely driving these vehicles. If the power steering goes out while I am driving our acadia, I might be able to handle it, but if my wife were driving it, the outcome may be very different.

Filed Apr 20, 2010 · Steering · 36,000 miles · LA

Whining while driving and clanking noise while going over bumps-was told the whining was the power steering, and needed the power steering pump to be changed. I was told the clanking noise was due to a problem with the rack and pinion. Both are directly related. I was told that many people are having problems with the rack and pinion, but gmc would not fix the problem right now, it was a problem that's "on hold."